Internal and Crossover Interpretations as Two Fundamental Hermeneutic Prototypes of interpreting Classic Chinese Writings: Taking The Book of Change (I Ching) as an Example
Author：Yih-Jing Lin
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What characteristics the long-standing tradition of Chinese classics interpretation manifests? The author suggests that, though largely neglected, the interpretations of Chinese classics can be categorized into two prototypes. To bring these two prototypes into light, the author will analyze a variety of interpretations of The Book of Change (I Ching). In the first section, the author gives an overview of the issue. In section 2 and 3, the author defines the two prototypes at stake and investigates their relationships with various forms of interpretations of some selected texts in The Book of Change. The author then goes on to discuss the merits and costs of the two prototypes in section 4 and 5, before concluding in section 6. It will be argued that both internal interpretations—interpretations that seek internal coherence within a particular writing—and crossover interpretations—interpretations that seek overall coherence among several different but related writings—are flowers growing out of efforts to understand the philosophy of classic Chinese writings. They are fundamental to the everlasting life of the tradition of Chinese classics interpretation, just as as Qián and Kūn are fundamental to the change of every entity.